"It took us two months to make a decision in the case of Assange, so do not expect us to make a decision sooner this time," Patino told reporters during a trip in Malaysia. He added through Twitter the decision could happen "in a day, a week, or, as happened with Assange, it could take two months."

Snowden has not left the airport's transit zone and is free to leave the country, but the U.S. annulled his passport so it has limited where he can go, Newsday reported. Exiting the transit area would require boarding a plane or passing through border control, both of which require a valid passport or other documentation.